About

Context

The main problem to be addressed by the project is the lack of accessible potable water for the residents of Kabul City.

Whilst water supply to Kabul may be of increasing concern, Afghanistan is not lacking in water resources. Approximately 90% of precipitation, which occurs in Kabul in the form of rain, snow, drizzle and hail, falls during the cool season running from November and April. This is followed by runoff from the mountainous regions from April to May, when the snow-cover from the Hindu-Kush mountain range melts. The key issue is that most of this snowmelt is not captured for productive use and flows onward to Pakistan, leaving the country scarce of water. Kabul is almost entirely dependent on groundwater for its domestic water supplies. This has resulted in over exploitation of the local Kabul aquifers and rapidly declining groundwater levels under the city.

Solution

One solution to this challenge is Managed Aquifer Recharge (MAR) or Artificial Storage and Recovery (ASR). MAR and ASR are the intentional recharge of water to suitable aquifers under controlled conditions for subsequent recovery, to achieve environmental benefits and/or to mitigate the impacts of over-abstraction. The process may involve the passive treatment of water through natural processes within the aquifer, to achieve a desired water quality.

There are a variety of MAR options to explore for the recharge of aquifers, as follows:

Controlled recharge will increase groundwater storage, as shown in the example above.

Key features of artificial recharge:

Can be used to maximize storage (long term and seasonal)

Water can be recovered when needed

Improves groundwater quality via dilution

Can reduce salinity and prevent saline intrusion and land subsidence

Can be used to meet seasonal demand and be a strategic storage

Can mitigate against the impact of climate change

The Kabul Managed Aquifer Recharge pilot project is being carried out at up to four locations in Kabul to confirm the feasibility of Managed Aquifer Recharge as a solution to water scarcity in Kabul. It involves hydrogeological studies, MAR testing, and comparison with alternative options. If the pilot tests prove successful this pilot study will lead to a more comprehensive project to raise groundwater levels and increase groundwater resources for Kabul. The project tasks are outlined below.